Sony has just announced a major decision in their live-service strategy by closing Firewalk Studios. This move comes after Concord, Firewalk's PvP shooter, failed to attract enough market attention and had to be shut down just weeks after its launch. This decision shows how Sony is now more selective in choosing live-service projects that fit their vision and standards.
Firewalk Studios Background
Firewalk Studios was founded in 2018 by several former Bungie developers, including Harold Ryan of Probably Monsters. The studio received support from Sony to develop Concord, a sci-fi-themed PvP shooter game that tries to combine elements of Destiny 2 and Overwatch-style character systems.
However, since its initial announcement, Concord faced a tough challenge with a less than positive response from gamers. Despite the game's official launch, Concord didn't manage to build enough of a player base to survive amidst stiff competition in the PvP shooter industry.
Sony's Decision to Close Firewalk Studios
Hermen Hulst, co-CEO of PlayStation Studios, stated that "some aspects of Concord were great, but others didn't attract enough players, so we decided to discontinue the game. We've spent a lot of time in the last few months exploring all of our options. After much thought, we've decided the best course is to permanently discontinue the game and close the studio. I would like to thank the entire Firewalk team for their skill, creative spirit, and dedication."
In addition, Neon Koi, another studio also owned by Sony, was also closed along with the termination of the development of a multiplayer shooter game for mobile that they were working on. This move is part of Sony's efforts to be more selective in entering the mobile game market by choosing projects that truly match the high standards of PlayStation Studios.
Competition and Sony's Move into Live-Service Gaming
The PvP shooter genre is highly competitive, with popular free-to-play games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Valorant already dominating the market. Concord had a hard time competing, mainly because its content was perceived as lacking innovation and it didn't stand out enough among the competitors.
Sony recognizes that to succeed in the live-service gaming space, it needs unique and memorable gaming experiences. Going forward, Sony will focus more on projects that are capable of delivering such experiences, while learning from Concord's experience to strengthen live-services that can truly attract players.
With the closure of Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi, Sony has shown its commitment to reorganizing its live-service strategy to deliver projects that are more in line with player expectations. This decision was made so that Sony can focus on developing games that truly bring value to the gamer community. As one of the major players in the industry, Sony continues to adapt to create innovative and engaging gaming experiences for its fans in the future.
Source: My City, Sony Interactive Entertainment
